Jason's Ultimate Homemade Manwich Recipe - Pinch My Salt (2023)

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Jason's Ultimate Homemade Manwich Recipe - Pinch My Salt (1)

A sandwich is a sandwich, but a Manwich is a meal! This easy homemade Manwich recipe makes the ultimate sloppy joe sandwich. If you have never tried making homemade sloppy joes, give this ultimate homemade Manwich recipe a try!

As I have already mentioned, today I share a birthday with my cousin Jason. A week ago he e-mailed me and requested that I create The Ultimate Manwich recipe for his birthday and post it on Pinch My Salt. No other instructions or descriptions were given. He just asked for an ultimate homemade Manwich recipe.

I actuallylove it when I get requests to create something! Remember Ruby’s request for Pumpkin Scones?

Jason makes these requests fairly often but they are usually off-the-wall combinations of ingredients that I don’t bother to take seriously. However, I knew I could come up with a good homemade Sloppy Joe recipe so I was excited about this one!

Those of you who aren’t in the United States probably have no idea what a Manwich is. Manwich is the brand name of a seasoned tomato sauce that is mixed with cooked ground beef and put on a hamburger bun or bread to create a sloppy joe sandwich.

The sandwich is typically called a Sloppy Joe, although I am sure there are other names for it. I’m pretty sure I liked to eat manwiches as a kid, but I am really not a fan of the canned Manwich sauce nowadays.

I tried it a couple years ago and swore I would never buy that stuff again. Yuck! But, Sloppy Joes are fun every once in a while so now I just make them from scratch. I’ve even previously written about one of the recipes I tried but I’ve always wanted tocome up with a better homemade manwich recipe.

In order to make a traditional Sloppy Joe recipe into an Ultimate Manwich, I knew I needed to add something extra. Sloppy Joes are often a little sweet (sometimes a lot sweet). Since I love the combination of sweet and spicy, I knew I would first have to add some extra heat.

I could have just added extra crushed red pepper or thrown in some fresh chiles. But it occurred to me that one more flavor would go perfectly with the spicy and sweet. Smoky! I decided the perfect solution would be to add some canned chipotle peppers in adobo.

Chipotles are smoke-dried jalapeño peppers and in grocery stores you will often find them canned in adobo sauce. The chipotle in adobo would add both the spice I was after and a hint of smoke. And the delicious adobo sauce adds even more flavor.

Now I knew I was on to something but I thought I might need one more thing to make this homemade sloppy joe sandwich ‘The Ultimate.’ What’s one ingredient that makes just about everything better? No, not bacon (although the thought did cross my mind).

Cheese!

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I decided to stir in some extra sharp cheddar cheese at the very end. Just enough to add that extra dimension of flavor and some extra ‘sloppiness.’

Yesterday, I started looking through previous homemade sloppy joe recipes I had tried and even some I hadn’t. Before heading to the store, I created a list of ingredients I knew I wanted to use:

red bell pepper
onion
fresh garlic
chipotle chili in adobo
apple cider vinegar
brown sugar
chili powder
cumin
cinnamon
salt
fresh ground pepper
crushed red pepper
ground beef
extra sharp cheddar

Looking at my list, I knew it was going to be goodbefore I even started making it! I picked up all the ingredients yesterday afternoon and had planned on making these then. But as you might have read yesterday, I lost my momentum and decided to make them first thing this morning instead.

Sothis morning I got upand gathered my ingredients.

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First, I chopped the red bell pepper, onion and two cloves of garlic.

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I also chopped up one chipotle chile and set it aside.

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I poured a couple tablespoons of olive oil into a large skillet and turned the heat to medium.

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Next, I added the onions and red bell peppers (not the garlic yet).

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I cooked the onions and peppers over medium heat, stirring regularly. This is what they looked like after five minutes.

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But I kept cooking them until the onions were just slightly brown and the peppers were getting soft. After seven minutes, I added the garlic and one chopped chipotle chili and cooked, stirring, for one more minute.

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Then I added one 15 oz. can of tomato sauce, one 6 oz. can of tomato paste, one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon of adobo sauce from the canned chilies, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and a dash of cinnamon and I stirred it all together.

I didn’t forget the chili powder, I just ended up not needing it after all.

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I was tempted to add more salt at this point but decided that since I wanted to season the ground beef as it was cooking, I would wait until the end to decide if it needs extra salt.

Since I wanted the sauce to be somewhat similar in appearance to what comes out of the can, I decided to puree the mixture in a blender. I let it cool slightly then spooned it into the blender.

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I then pureed the sauce until it was fairly smooth.

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After it was the consistency I wanted, I just let the sauce hang out in the blender while I prepared the ground beef.

I started by rinsing and re-using the same skillet I had used for the sauce. I heated the skillet over medium heat and crumbled about one pound of ground beef into the pan.

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While it was cooking, I seasoned the meat with half a teaspoon salt, some fresh ground black pepper, and a generous pinch of crushed red pepper. I cooked the meat until it was almost fully cooked but still a little pink in some spots.

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As you can see, my beef wasn’t very lean! But that’s ok, because I just poured off all the fat.

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After draining the fat off the ground beef, I poured in all of the sauce from the blender.

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I stirred it all together and set the heat to medium-low.

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I cooked the mixture, stirring constantly until it was bubbling and had thickened enough to where it was ‘moundable’ enough for a sandwich. Then I turned off the heat.

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Now it was time for the cheese! I chose yellow cheddar over white because it matched the color of the sauce.


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I shredded about one cup of cheese (3 oz. or so) and added it to the sauce mixture.

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I gently stirred in the cheeseand my Ultimate Manwich filling was finished!

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It was now ready for a bun.

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Jason's Ultimate Homemade Manwich Recipe - Pinch My Salt (22)

Guess what I ate for my birthday breakfast?

Jason's Ultimate Homemade Manwich Recipe - Pinch My Salt (23)

Yes,I really did eat this at 10:30 a.m. for a late breakfast. I hadn’t eaten yet and believe me, this sandwich was pretty irresistible. I couldn’t finish it all but that’s because I had overloaded it with meat for photographic purposes, but I’m pretty sure that Jason would have eaten the entire thing if he were here.

So, that was Jason’s Ultimate Birthday Manwich. And guess what I have decided to call it?

The Sloppy Jason.

I had to name the sandwich after him because even though he doesn’t have a food blog, Jason was nice enough to create and name a sandwich after me in honor of my birthday. That’s right, Larry Davidisn’t the only one. There is now a sandwich called The Nicole.

Hope you have enjoyed my saucy beef sandwich experiment! Happy birthday, Jason and happy birthday to me as well.

Jason's Ultimate Homemade Manwich Recipe - Pinch My Salt (24)

Yield: 4 Servings

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Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Additional Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

This homemade manwich recipe makes the ultimate sloppy joe sandwich! If you have never tried making homemade sloppy joes, give this Ultimate Manwich recipe a try!

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 canned chipotle pepper in adobo, minced
  • 15-oz can tomato sauce
  • 6-oz can tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon adobo sauce (from can of chipotles)
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt, divided (plus more for seasoning if desired)
  • pinch of cinnamon
  • fresh ground black pepper, to taste
  • pinch of crushed red pepper
  • 1 pound 85% lean ground beef, cooked and drained
  • 4 oz shredded sharp cheddar (about a cup)
  • 4 hamburger buns

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a medium/large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and bell pepper and cook, stirring, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic and chipotle chili and cook for about another minute.
  2. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, vinegar, adobo sauce, brown sugar, cumin, salt, and cinnamon and cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes.
  3. If you want a smooth sauce, like the canned sloppy joe sauce, let cool for a bit then puree in a blender until smooth. You may also pour it into a container and blend with a stick blender. Set sauce aside while you cook the ground beef.
  4. Heat a medium/large skillet over medium heat (I just wash and reuse the skillet I used for the sauce) and add the ground beef, breaking it up with a spatula or wooden spoon. Cook until mostly done, but still a little pink (the meat will finish cooking in the sauce). While the beef is cooking, season with another 1/2 teaspoon of salt, some fresh ground black pepper, and pinch of crushed red pepper.
  5. Drain the fat off the meat unless you've used really lean ground beef then add the sauce to the skillet with the mostly cooked ground beef. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until bubbly and thick enough to mound on a hamburger bun.
  6. Turn off the heat then stir in the shredded cheddar cheese.
  7. Make your sloppy joe sandwiches but putting 1/4 of the meat mixture on the bottom halves of four hamburger buns. Top with the top halves of the buns and serve!

Notes

To reduce the heat for kids, you can use less of the chipotle chili and adobo sauce or even omit this ingredient entirely. You can also leave out the pinch of crushed red pepper.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 705Total Fat: 37gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 129mgSodium: 1638mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 5gSugar: 20gProtein: 47g

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FAQs

What can I add to Manwich sauce to make it taste better? ›

THE VEGGIES: Onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers add savory flavor to Manwich sauce. This is also a great way to use up extra veggies like potatoes, corn, or even mushrooms for a boost of extra nutrition!

What's the difference between Manwich and Sloppy Joe mix? ›

What's the Difference Between Manwich and Sloppy Joes? Manwich is the marketed version of sloppy joe sauce that you can find in the grocery store.

What are the ingredients in a can of Manwich? ›

Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), High Fructose Corn Syrup, Distilled Vinegar, Corn Syrup, less than 2% of: Salt, Sugar, Chili Pepper, Dehydrated Green and Red Bell Peppers, Tomato Fiber, Guar Gum, Spices, Xanthan Gum, Dehydrated Garlic, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid.

How do you thicken homemade Sloppy Joes? ›

You can thicken your sloppy joe mix using cornstarch, flour, or potato starch or by letting it simmer and reduce. The most effective thickening method is to use cornstarch mixed with water and add it slowly into your filling.

How do you make Manwich Sloppy Joes taste better? ›

The best way to improve the taste of Manwich sloppy joes is to combine ground beef and sausage. Then stir in onions, bell peppers, seasonings, spices, and the Manwich sauce. Serve the sloppy joes on a toasted brioche hamburger bun with a crisp topping like coleslaw or Fritos.

Do you drain meat before adding sloppy joe sauce? ›

Do you drain the fat from ground beef for sloppy joes? If you are using lean ground beef, there shouldn't be an excess of grease to be drained. If needed, transfer the ground beef to a colander to drain. Then, return the beef mixture to the pot and continue with the recipe.

What is a sloppy joe called in England? ›

Manwich, slush burger, yum yums, dynamite, spoonburgers, tavern sandwich; a Sloppy Joe can be called by many other names. The most well-known however is Manwich.

Is Manwich just ketchup? ›

Manwich, a portmanteau of man and sandwich, is the brand name of a canned sloppy joe sauce produced by ConAgra Foods and Hunt's, introduced in 1969. The can contains seasoned tomato sauce that is added to ground beef cooked in a skillet.

What are sloppy joes called in other states? ›

Would you believe that sloppy joes are often called by different names in different parts of the United States? It's true! Some other names for sloppy joes include: barbecues, dynamites, gulash, sloppy janes, slushburgers, steamers, wimpies, and yum yums.

Does Manwich have garlic in it? ›

Manwich sauce is more "zesty" than bold, our tasters say.

The majority used ground beef in the sauce - a concoction of tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, garlic and spices - and made it into sandwiches.

Did Manwich ever have meat in it? ›

Manwich is the brand name of a canned sloppy joe sauce introduced in 1969. The can contains seasoned tomato sauce that is added to cooked ground beef in a skillet. It is marketed as a quick and easy one-pan meal for the whole family.

Is Manwich healthy? ›

Yes, this lunchtime staple can be good for you. A healthy sandwich is a lunchtime favorite for a few good reasons: It's easily packable, cheap to make, and the perfect vehicle for complex carbohydrates, good-for-you fats, fiber-packed veggies, and lean protein.

What can I use instead of tomato paste for Sloppy Joe mix? ›

*Substitution: Use 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce in place of tomato paste and water.

How do you soak up grease in Sloppy Joes? ›

Removing Grease from the Pan
  1. Spoon the grease into a bowl. Use a large metal spoon to remove the grease in the pan. ...
  2. Suck up the grease with a turkey baster instead of using a spoon. ...
  3. Absorb the grease with paper towels for easy cleanup. ...
  4. Cover a bowl with tin foil and put a strainer over the bowl.
May 31, 2020

What can you add to Sloppy Joes that are too sweet? ›

Balance Out the Flavors

Sour: The general go-to here would be lemon juice, although lime will also work. Orange juice will only add more sweetness as will some kinds of vinegar. White wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar are good choices but shy away from balsamic because of its inherent sweetness.

Can you use white sugar instead of brown sugar in Sloppy Joes? ›

If you don't have the molasses or brown sugar you can substitute the brown sugar with regular sugar or leave out the molasses. You can also just leave out sugar in general because the ketchup is sweet anyways. You can use either prepared mustard or ground mustard.

How do you make sloppy joes less greasy? ›

Use a lean ground beef so that your Sloppy Joes aren't too greasy. Drain the beef once cooked to remove excess fat. This recipe is traditionally made with a green bell pepper, but you can use any color. Dice the pepper and onion finely so that it mixes well with the ground beef.

Do you drain the fat when making sloppy joes? ›

Homemade Sloppy Joe Tips

We suggest draining the browned beef, because excess grease serves as a barrier to sloppy joe seasonings.

Do you add seasoning before or after you drain ground beef? ›

Season the Ground Beef. When it comes to seasoning your ground beef, wait until after it has been browned and drained. Adding salt to raw ground beef pulls out moisture, drying the meat out and creating steam while it cooks, which prevents it from browning properly.

How do you add depth to meat sauce? ›

Some cooks swear by adding a spoonful of sugar to overly acidic tomatoes; others like to add a glug of red wine for increased depth of flavor.

What is slang for a sandwich in UK? ›

A sarnie is a sandwich. [British, informal]

What is a sloppy Jane? ›

Ground beef tossed in a delicious and savory sauce, stuffed in a lovely baked sweet potato, this Sloppy Jane dinner is so satisfying and one that the whole family will just love!

What is British slang for sandwich? ›

In England, a sandwich is called a butty! Add some British food slang to your vocabulary that will impress English folk and confuse your American friends.

What is the sloppy Joe sauce called? ›

Technically Manwich is a pre-made sauce that's used to make sloppy joes.

What are Sloppy Joes called in Wisconsin? ›

It depends where — and maybe when — you grew up. It's a hot tamale in Sheboygan and Manitowoc, barbecue in central Wisconsin, Spanish hamburger in the Fox Cities.

What is a New Jersey style sloppy joe? ›

The New Jersey Sloppy Joe features two types of meat (of your choice) with coleslaw, Swiss cheese and Russian dressing on thinly sliced Rye bread. Leave it to New Jersey to take a sandwich with toppings from two different countries, a bread with European origins and make it our own. It's certainly sloppy.

What do Australians call Sloppy Joes? ›

In Aus. a sloppy joe is what is known as a sweatshirt in the USA.

How much salt is in Manwich? ›

Per 1/4 Cup: 35 calories; 0 g sat. fat (0% DV); 310 mg sodium (13% DV); 6 g total sugars. Just add meat. No artificial flavors or colors.

Does Manwich have MSG in it? ›

18 Ingredients

This product should be egg free, msg free, peanut free, no artificial colors, no artificial flavors, vegetarian, nut free, no artificial ingredients, vegan, dairy free, gluten free, and soy free.

What nationality is sloppy joe? ›

Sloppy Joes are largely believed to be the creation of a cook in Sioux City, Iowa. Named, yes, Joe, he based his treat on the loose meat sandwiches that were popular in the 1930's.

What animal is sloppy joe? ›

While a sloppy Joe is normally made from ground beef, mine are made from ground lamb. As they're homemade, they're a lot healthier than any store bought comfort food. Lamb has many health benefits. Firstly, it's a great source of quality protein.

Why is Sloppy Joe's in Key West famous? ›

Sloppy Joe's is one of Key West's most famous bars. Rich in history, Sloppy Joe's has been located at the corner of Greene and Duval Streets since 1937. This Florida beach bar was a favorite place for Ernest Hemingway to hang out. It was Hemingway who gave the place it's name.

Is Manwich high in sodium? ›

Traditional sloppy joes made with Manwich or other canned sauce can pack quite the sodium punch. The meat in one sandwich can have up to 650mg of sodium, or about 28% of your total sodium goal for the entire day!

What is the healthiest sandwich to eat? ›

Good sandwich choices include sliced deli or rotisserie chicken, turkey, ham, lean roast beef, canned salmon or tuna, nut butter, grilled tempeh or tofu, smashed cooked beans, and reduced-fat cheese. Unsure about serving size?

Is Manwich processed food? ›

This product is highly processed.

What is Manwich sloppy joe sauce made of? ›

Ingredients. Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), High Fructose Corn Syrup, Distilled Vinegar, Corn Syrup, Less Than 2% Of: Salt, Sugar, Carrot Fiber, Dried Green And Red Bell Peppers, Chili Pepper, Guar Gum, Spices, Xanthan Gum, Dried Garlic, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid.

What happens if you don't use tomato paste? ›

But if you find yourself in a pinch without tomato paste, don't just omit it – you'll lose all that important tomato umami flavor. Most likely you have another form of tomato that can easily substitute tomato paste (and no one will be the wiser).

How do you make sloppy joe sauce less sweet? ›

Try adding more acid to your sauce when it tastes too sweet. Acidic flavors can help subdue the sweetness and allow the sauce to become savory and balanced. Try various types of vinegar such as white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or balsamic vinegar. Citrus juice is also a great acidic alternative!

What happens if you pour hamburger grease down the drain? ›

Grease solidifies when it hits the cool surface of the pipes, eventually causing the pipes to clog. Place traps or strainers in your sink to catch pieces of solid food. Liquid grease should be disposed of in a container in the trash.

What is the best fat content for sloppy joes? ›

Ground Beef – use lean ground beef (85-90% lean). If using a higher fat content, you will need to skim off the extra fat once the beef is cooked.

How do you fix Sloppy Joes that are too salty? ›

Acid: Adding vinegar or lemon juice does a great job of balancing saltiness. Sweetness: You can also add a dash of honey or sugar. Opposites attract here and create balance. Fat: Another fix is adding some fat, a few pads or butter or a healthy glug of olive oil can absorb some of that saltiness.

How do you thicken homemade sloppy joe sauce? ›

You can thicken your sloppy joe mix using cornstarch, flour, or potato starch or by letting it simmer and reduce. The most effective thickening method is to use cornstarch mixed with water and add it slowly into your filling.

What compliments Sloppy Joes? ›

With that, here are the 21 best side dishes for sloppy joes you need to try!
  • Crisp Potato Chips. We all know that a sandwich is always better with a side of something crispy and a simply delicious treat. ...
  • Onion Rings. ...
  • Baked Beans. ...
  • Tater Tots. ...
  • Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese. ...
  • Coleslaw. ...
  • Roasted Green Beans. ...
  • Dill Pickles.
Nov 20, 2022

What can you add to sloppy Joes that are too sweet? ›

Balance Out the Flavors

Sour: The general go-to here would be lemon juice, although lime will also work. Orange juice will only add more sweetness as will some kinds of vinegar. White wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar are good choices but shy away from balsamic because of its inherent sweetness.

What is a sloppy Joe called in England? ›

Manwich, slush burger, yum yums, dynamite, spoonburgers, tavern sandwich; a Sloppy Joe can be called by many other names. The most well-known however is Manwich.

What are Sloppy Joes called in Australia? ›

Contributor's comments: No, in Victoria it's a windcheater. Only in NSW is it a sloppy joe. Contributor's comments: In Qld my mother always used this name - I think it must have been a brand name at some stage. In WA they call the same type of thing a "windcheater".

Whats the difference between a tavern and a sloppy joe? ›

The tavern sandwich is unlike a hamburger, because a tavern's meat is cooked loose rather than formed into a compact patty. It more closely resembles a sloppy joe, without the tomato-based sauce.

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